As the clock struck nine on Sunday morning 13 artists dipped their brushes into paint to begin creating their murals for Tasmazia International Mural Fest.

The Mural Fest artists traveled to Sheffield from other parts of Tasmania, Queensland, New Zealand and Bulgaria.

The artistic theme of this year’s event was Through the Eyes of a Child, artists were challenged to incorporate this theme into their mural ideas.

Tasmanian artist Leanne Tamas teamed up with John Eathorne to create a mural which they have titled When I Grow Up.

Ms Tamas said what inspired their entry was an email that turned into an “ongoing joke”.

“There was an email that was sent around with a child saying ‘when I grow up I want to be an artist’ and the mother responding ‘you have to decide you can’t do both’, you know, you can’t grow up and be an artist so it became an ongoing joke so I emailed it to him [Mr Eathorne] and asked if he wanted to have a go at Mural Fest again.”

The Tasmanian duo are no strangers to Mural Fest having entered four years ago Ms Tamas said she was keen to be apart of it again.

PIRATE LIFE: Sheffield artist Leanne Tamas has started turning her miniature mural into a large scale mural. Pictures: Cordell Richardson

“There is a lot of comradeship here which we like, seeing other artists you do not often see is great,” she said.

Mr Eathorne said there was no other event like Mural Fest in the world.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE: North Melbourne key forward Ben Brown placed his vote for the People's Choice at Mural Fest on Sunday.

“There is nothing like this anywhere – It is the best Mural Fest in the world without a doubt,” he said.

Before developing their mural concept, Ms Tamas said they thought they would go to the people the theme was created from.

“We actually talked to children, we asked them what they saw through the eyes of a child and what do you see the world as,” she said.

“That is how we got some of our ideas to include in the mural such as a puppy dog fishing, having Tarzan and then it grew from there.”

Des Brown.

Throughout the week Ms Tamas, Mr Eathorne and the other artists will be working hard to create their large-scale works of art.

The official opening of Mural Fest was held on Sunday, Kentish Arts Festival president Des Brown said he hoped this would be the most successful year yet.

“I think when you have 29 entries the quality keeps improving and I think that is what the major thing we are finding as we get known more, they are coming from countries like Estonia for instance that we never would have believed would think to come to a Mural Fest,” he said.

“We do have a vision, we want it to be the best in the world so the top mural artists will come year after year.”

North Melbourne football player Ben Brown was among the crowd on the opening day of Mural Fest as well as Senator Jacqui Lambie who officially opened the event dressed as a princess.

ART: Queensland artist Gren Freeman began work on his mural during day one of Mural Fest on Sunday.